subject: Determining Quality Of Diamond Earrings New York [print this page] Its easy to find diamond earrings in New York, but determining the quality of diamond jewelry to be sure that youre getting the best value for your money is another matter all its own. Many people tend to be intimidated by the prospect of diamond shopping, but thats only because a lot of us simply dont understand exactly what it is were looking for when it comes to diamond quality vs. value. With that in mind, here are a few of the basics to help you find the best deal on diamond earrings in New York.
The Four Cs of Diamond Quality
This is probably the single most important thing of which consumers need to garner a basic understanding before beginning a search for diamond stud earrings in New York. Here is a brief overview of the Four Cs of diamond quality.
The Four Cs refer to characteristics inherent in the individual stone. They are Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat Weight.
Cut
The cut of a diamond refers to its shape, but not in the way that many people mistakenly believe. Rather than referring to the shape of the diamond (round, emerald, pear, princess, marquis, etc.), the grade of a diamonds cut is actually an indication of the precision with which the diamond has been crafted. When a diamond is cut properly, it refracts the maximum amount of light resulting in a more brilliant stone.
Clarity
The clarity rating you will encounter in your search for diamond earrings in New York refers to the diamonds flaws (or lack thereof) both internal and external. Internal flaws are called inclusions. External flaws are called blemishes. Its important to know that very few diamonds are truly flawless, and that the majority of minor inclusion have little to no effect on a diamonds appearance to the naked eye.
Color
While there are fancy colored diamonds available, the term color as it applies to the Four Cs of diamond quality actually refers to a typically undesirable discoloration of an otherwise colorless stone. Colorless or near-colorless are optimal grades to look for in this category.
Carat Weight
The size of a diamond is measured in units called carats, and so carat weight is fairly self-explanatory. However, its important to realize that biggest isnt always necessarily best, especially if your purchase of diamond earrings is to be dictated by budget restrictions, when you factor in the other three Cs outlined above.
New York is abundant in jewelry stores, and so you can expect to find a staggering selection. This can actually make your search more difficult even overwhelming if you dont know just what youre looking for. However, the ability to determine diamond quality can help you narrow down this massive selection and zero in on the best deals on diamond earrings in New York.
